Microscope Having A Sensor Operating In Non-Contact Fashion

ABSTRACT

A microscope having a mechanically adjustable zoom system ( 7 ) and/or a mechanically adjustable focus system is described, which microscope is equipped at least one manually movable adjusting element ( 2 ) for adjusting the zoom system ( 7 ) and/or the focus system. The adjusting element ( 2 ) has associated with it a sensor ( 1 ) for ascertaining and/or indicating the position of the adjusting element ( 2 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of German patent application 10 2006058 943.2 filed Dec. 14, 2006, which application is incorporated byreference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a microscope having at least one manuallymovable adjusting element, such as an adjusting element for adjusting azoom system and/or a focus system of the microscope.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In microscopes of this kind it is usual that, for example, the focus ora zoom system be manually modified or adjusted. For this purpose, thesecomponents are mechanically connected to an adjusting knob. Othermanually movable adjusting elements in the microscope are, for example,the objective turret or a filter slider, a filter turret, or also anadjustable stop, which either are actuated directly or have an adjustingwheel associated with them. These microscopes are notable for the factthat they are of simple construction and can be offered at acorrespondingly low price.

In contrast thereto, microscopes are known in which the modifiableadjusting elements in the microscope are actuated with stepping motorsor DC motors. With such drive systems it is usually necessary for thesemotors to be equipped with incremental encoders and correspondingcontrol systems. With these complex measures it is then, of course,possible to perform the corresponding adjustments automatically, andadditionally to use for measurement purposes the values or variablesthat are set. Certain settings on the microscope, for example the zoomposition or magnification, the working distance to the specimen, or alsothe objective in use, can then also be repeatably stored or documented.

Microscopes of corresponding construction are known from the documentsDE 103 55 529 A1, DE 102 25 193 B4, and DE 198 22 256 C2. Themicroscopes and control devices described therein are notable for thefact that essential microscope functions are embodied to be modifiablein electrically motorized fashion, and the position can be controlledreproducibly via rotary encoders. The use of electric motors in amicroscope of course requires a precisely operating control device, andis therefore quite complex.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to refine a manuallyoperated microscope in such a way that it can also be used formeasurement purposes, and that the microscope parameters, once adjusted,can be set repeatably.

This object is achieved by the present invention, and a advantageousrefinements of the invention are described herein.

The invention is notable for the fact that a manually operatedmicroscope of simple construction, having a mechanically adjustable zoomsystem and/or having a mechanically adjustable focus system, is equippedwith a sensor, and the position of the element that is to be adjustedmanually in the microscope is ascertained with said sensor.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor is embodiedas an absolute-measuring sensor operating in non-contact fashion, sothat no initialization of the sensor after a shutoff of current deliveryis necessary. In contrast to incremental encoders or stepping motors, noinitializations need to be performed in this case.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the sensor is equipped with amagnet and with a receiver, the change in the magnetic field beingsensed by way of a relative motion between the magnet and the receiver.Either the magnet or the receiver is mounted on the movable adjustingelement of the microscope.

In a further embodiment of the invention, provision is made that thesensor is embodied as a Hall effect sensor. With a sensor of this kind,a magnet is moved in non-contact fashion over a receiver module, and thefield strength of the magnetic field is measured by the receiver. Thedistance from the receiver at which the magnet is arranged is immaterialin this context, so that tolerances in the mechanical guidance system ofthe moving magnet do not result in a distorted measurement result.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the magnet or the receiveris connected in rotationally movable fashion to a drive shaft, bypreference to the drive shaft of the adjusting element that is to beactuated. This ensures that the setting can be measured directly. Asensor that exhibits these features is offered, for example, by thecompany styled Austriamicrosystems AG, Austria, under the model numberAS 5045. This sensor is also notable for the fact that it is anabsolute-measurement sensor, in which the rotation axis can perform a360-degree motion and each angular position is reproducibly indicated ormeasured within this range.

In a refinement of the invention, provision is made for connecting thedrive shaft to a gear train, and for the motion of the adjusting elementto be transferred via the gear train to the drive shaft in eithergeared-down or geared-up fashion. The result of gearing down or up isthat the measurement range of absolute-measurement sensors of this kindis fully exploited.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the rotation of the driveshaft is to be limited. This ensures that the sensor is not brought intoan undefined position.

In a refinement of the invention, the magnet or the receiver is arrangedon a carriage. With an arrangement of this kind, a linear motion of thedriven element is ascertained with the sensor. One such linear encoderwith Hall effect sensor is depicted and described in the documentElectronik Praxis no. 12, Jun. 16, 2006, page 26. This sensor comprisesmultiple two-pole magnets arranged next to one another, which are movedlinearly over the receiver module. In a context of smaller linearmotions it is of course also possible to arrange only a single two-polemagnet.

In a refinement of the invention, provision is made to equip themicroscope with a zoom system to modify the magnification, and with asystem for adjusting the focus, a respective sensor being associatedwith the zoom and/or with the focus system. The magnification-relateddata, for example, can then be ascertained from the position of the zoomsystem, so that said data can then be stored for documentation purposesor else stored together with the image and/or image-acquisition data ofan electronic image acquisition device, for example an electronic camerahaving a CCD imaging chip. Because the image data, image-acquisitiondata, and microscope data are stored in combination, the respectivesettings can be reapplied at a later point in time.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the sensor is connected to acontrol device and/or to an indicating device. The control device isconnected via an active interface to a downstream storage device and/orto an image processing device. The indicating device serves here tovisualize the value that is set, for example so that a specificadjustment position can be returned to.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor has associatedwith it an active interface that is embodied, for example, as a USB orFireWire interface and enables data transfer simultaneously with powersupply to the sensor. No additional power supply is therefore necessaryin the microscope, and the sensor can be connected directly to thecontrol device, for example to a conventional computer.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor operating innon-contact fashion is embodied as a Hall effect sensor, which is usedin an optical device, preferably in a microscope that is to be operatedmanually and functions exclusively mechanically, to determine theposition of the mechanically functioning adjusting element.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the Hall effect sensor is usedin a zoom microscope to calibrate and/or store magnification data.

The use of such a sensor is particularly advantageous whenever thecomponents of the microscope that are provided for displacement aremoved in exclusively mechanical fashion, i.e. no electric-motor drivesand corresponding control devices are present in order to ascertainposition, and the exact position of the component must nevertheless beascertained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained further with reference to anexemplifying embodiment, with the aid of schematic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of an optics housing in a microscope having a zoomsystem;

FIG. 2 schematically depicts the sensor on the adjustable microscopeelement; and

FIG. 3 shows a detail of FIG. 2 with the sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows optics housing 14 of a microscope (not depicted in furtherdetail) having a main objective 15, a zoom system 7 arranged in opticshousing 14, and a connector fitting 16 for an observation tube (notdepicted). Also provided in optics housing 14 is an adjusting element 2for modifying the position of zoom system 7. This adjusting element 2encompasses a control knob 10 and a shaft 11, connected to control knob10, that is associated with a spindle 12 and is in turn mechanicallyconnected to zoom system 7. Zoom system 7 comprises a carriage 17 thatis mechanically connected to spindle 12. In order to eliminatemechanical play, carriage 17 is connected to a spring 13 that is mountedon the other side on optics housing 14.

The rotary motion at control knob 10 is transferred via shaft 11 tospindle 12. Transfer of rotary motion from shaft 11 to spindle 12 (notshown in FIG. 1) may be achieved using known elements for transferringrotary motion, including for example bevel gears, spur gears, workgears, drive belts, and drive chains. Carriage 17 for zoom system 7 ismoved along the extension of spring 13 by a rotation of spindle 12, anda manual adjustment of the microscope's magnification is therebyperformed.

Spindle 12 is preferably configured in such a way that a spindle motionresults in a logarithmic change in magnification. The result of this isthat, for example, a spindle rotation of 10 degrees changes themagnification provided by zoom 7 by a fixed factor regardless of theangular position of spindle 12. With a spindle rotation of 720 degrees,for example, a total magnification factor of 16X can be set.

Additionally arranged in optics housing 14 is a sensor 1 that isconnected to a drive shaft 5. Drive shaft 5 carries a pinion 19 of agear train 6. Associated oppositely with pinion 19 is a further pinion20 that is connected to spindle 12. Pinions 19, 20 are equipped withdifferent diameters and form gear train 6. With this configuration, therotary motion at control knob 10 is transferred via shaft 11 and geartrain 6 to drive shaft 5 and to sensor 1. The position of the manuallymovable adjusting element 2 can thus be ascertained by sensor 1.

A further result of this arrangement is that any mechanical play atcontrol knob 10 and/or at shaft 11 has no effect on the measurement ofsensor 1.

It is of course within the scope of the invention to arrange thepreviously described linear encoder with Hall effect sensor on carriage17 and optics housing 14, and to measure the linear motion of thecarriage.

FIG. 2 schematically shows optics housing 14 with gear train 6 and adrive shaft 5 arranged therein. Sensor 1 comprises a magnet 3 arrangedon drive shaft 5. Associated oppositely with magnet 3 is a receiver 4that is fixedly connected to optics housing 14.

FIG. 3 shows a detail of FIG. 2 with magnet 3, which is embodied here asa simple dipole (North-South). The field strength of magnet 3, whichstrength changes as magnet 3 is rotated by shaft 5, is measured with theoppositely located receiver 4. Associated with receiver 4 is an activeinterface 18 that connects sensor 1 and receiver 4 to a downstreamcontrol device 8 and to an indicating device 9. Interface 18 is embodiedas an active interface, e.g. as USB or FireWire, and simultaneouslysupplies power to sensor 1 including receiver 4. Control device 8 may bea conventional computer having storage memory and image processingcapability, or storage and image processing may be provided by units(not shown) separate from control device 8.

PARTS LIST

-   1 Sensor-   2 Adjusting element-   3 Magnet-   4 Receiver-   5 Drive shaft-   6 Gear train-   7 Zoom system-   8 Control device-   9 Indicating device-   10 Control knob-   11 Shaft-   12 Spindle-   13 Spring-   14 Optics housing-   15 Main objective-   16 Connector fitting-   17 Carriage-   18 Active interface-   19 Pinion of 3-   20 Pinion of 12

1. A microscope comprising: a mechanically adjustable system for adjusting zoom or focus of the microscope, the mechanically adjustable system including at least one manually movable adjusting element actuated by a user to adjust a setting of the mechanically adjustable system; and a sensor associated with the adjusting element for ascertaining the position of the adjusting element.
 2. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a first portion moving in response to movement of the adjusting element and a second portion remaining fixed relative to the first portion, the first and second portions being non-contacting portions with respect to one another.
 3. The microscope according to claim 2, wherein the sensor includes a magnet generating a magnetic field and a receiver that senses change in the magnetic field.
 4. The microscope according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is a Hall effect sensor.
 5. The microscope according to claim 3, wherein the microscope further includes a rotatable drive shaft responsive to movement of the adjusting element, and the magnet or the receiver of the sensor is arranged on the drive shaft to rotate with the drive shaft.
 6. The microscope according to claim 5, wherein the drive shaft is connected to a gear train, and motion of the adjusting element is transferred via the gear train to the drive shaft.
 7. The microscope according to claim 6, wherein the gear train provides a gear ratio less than one.
 8. The microscope according to claim 6, wherein the gear train provides a gear ratio greater than one.
 9. The microscope according to claim 5, wherein rotation of the drive shaft is limited to 360 degrees.
 10. The microscope according to claim 3, wherein the microscope further includes a movable carriage responsive to movement of the adjusting element, and the magnet or the receiver of the sensor is arranged on the movable carriage to travel with the movable carriage.
 11. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the zoom system for modifying the magnification, and the focus system for adjusting the image sharpness, each have one of the sensors associated therewith.
 12. The microscope according to claim 1, further comprising at least one auxiliary device and an active interface for connecting the sensor to the at least one auxiliary device.
 13. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the at least one auxiliary device includes a control device.
 14. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the at least one auxiliary device includes an indicating device.
 15. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the active interface is a universal serial bus (USB) interface.
 16. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the active interface is a FireWire interface.
 17. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the active interface provides power to the sensor.
 18. A microscope comprising: a mechanically adjustable system including at least one manually movable adjusting element actuated by a user to adjust a setting of the mechanically adjustable system, the at least one manually adjustable system being chosen from the group consisting of a light stop, an objective turret, a movable microscope stage, a filter turret, and a filter slider; and a sensor associated with the adjusting element for ascertaining the position of the adjusting element.
 19. In a microscope comprising a mechanically adjustable system having a manually movable adjusting element actuated by a user to adjust a setting of the mechanically adjustable system, the improvement comprising: a Hall effect sensor arranged to determine the position of the adjusting element of the mechanically adjustable system.
 20. The improvement according to claim 19, wherein the microscope includes a zoom system, and the improvement further comprises: a storage device connected to the Hall effect sensor, whereby the Hall effect sensor is used for calibration of the zoom system and/or storage of magnification data. 